DAILY NATION Thursday February 6, 2014 Wakhungu backs Waititu appointment BY NATION REPORTER The Environment Cabinet Secretary has defended the appointment of former Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu as Athi Water Service Board chairman. Prof Judi Wakhungu (below) wants a petition that stopped Mr Waititu from assuming office dismissed, saying the appointment was within the law. Through State counsel Paul Opondo, Prof Wakhungu submitted that she appointed Mr Waititu based on his qualifications and experience, and that issues relating to his integrity should have been raised with the Ethics and AntiCorruption Commission. EDUCATION | Beginning of classes at 10 schools delayed Over 2,000 Form One admissions put on hold “If the petitioner had issues with the integrity of Mr Waititu, he should have followed the right procedure. He cannot challenge the decision of the Cabinet Secretary to appoint Mr Waititu since she acted in accordance with the law and powers bestowed on her by the Water Act,” said Mr Opondo. He noted that the petition was in any event sub judice since it was based on allegations of other criminal cases against Mr Waititu which are still pending in court. The petition was filed by businessman Benson Riitho. Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi extended the orders barring Mr Waititu from assuming office until she delivers a ruling on February 28. Nyeri County says students from the area were discriminated against in selection BY ERIC MUTAI @Mutai_eric enthiga@ke.nationmedia.com M ore than 2,000 Form One students will not join high schools in Nyeri after a court stopped their admission yesterday. The Nyeri County Government said admissions discriminated against students from the area. Mr Justice James Wakiaga stopped ION Thursday February 6, 2014 Wakhungu backs Waititu appointment BY NATION REPORTER The Environment Cabinet Secretary has defended the ap- pointment of former Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu as Athi Water Service Board chairman. Prof Judi Wakhungu (below) wants a petition that stopped Mr Waititu from assuming office dis- missed, saying the appointment was within the law. Through State counsel Paul Opondo, Prof Wakhungu submit- ted that she appointed Mr Waititu based on his qualifications and ex- perience, and that issues relating to his integrity should have been raised with the Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission. EDUCATION | Beginning of classes at 10 schools delayed Over 2,000 Form One admissions put on hold “If the petitioner had issues with the integrity of Mr Waititu, he should have followed the right procedure. He cannot challenge the decision of the Cabinet Secretary to appoint Mr Waititu since she acted in accordance with the law and powers bestowed on her by the Water Act,” said Mr Opondo. He noted that the petition was in any event sub judice since it was based on allegations of other crimi- nal cases against Mr Waititu which are still pending in court. The petition was filed by busi- nessman Benson Riitho. Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi extended the orders barring Mr Waititu from assuming office until she delivers a ruling on February 28. Nyeri County says students from the area were discriminated against in selection BY ERIC MUTAI @Mutai_eric enthiga@ke.nationmedia.com M ore than 2,000 Form One students will not join high schools in Nyeri after a court stopped their admission yesterday. The Nyeri County Government said admissions discriminated against stu- dents from the area. Mr Justice James Wakiaga stopped secondary secondary schools. Lawyer Wahome Gikonyo for the county government said that the Education ministry violated the guidelines for Form One selection “Eligible students from the county were discriminated against and a staggering number of students from other counties admitted in Nyeri schools which is above the 40 per cent provided for in the guidelines,” Number of students who will not join Form One in 10 secondary schools in Nyeri county 2,208 said Mr Gikonyo. He argued that 1,570 students from other regions were admitted to the county schools and only 320 students from Nyeri were admitted to schools outside the county. “There cannot be any logic in having only 12 students from Nyeri Central district joining Nyeri High School and one from Mukurwei-ni joining South Tetu Girls,” he said. Mr Gikonyo told the court the selec- tion was not based on merit, adding that two students from other counties who scored 211 and 219 marks were admitted to the two high performing schools. Lawyer Alex Muthuri, for the Edu- cation ministry told the court that the admissions could be halted pending e hearing tomorrow. FOUNTAIN VIEW ESTATE KITENGELA RIOT | Radical youth stone Majengo residents in protest A Majengo resident is taken to hospital after he was attacked by youths protesting against the killing of one of them yesterday. Radical youth attacked residents after the burial of the young man, who was killed during a standoff at Masjid Musa mosque in Mombasa on Sunday. LABAN WALLOGA | NATION National News 9 BRIEFLY FULTON Man held over death of Kenyan in America Police in the United States have charged a man in connection with the murder of a Kenyan who was shot dead in December last year. A spokesperson from Sandy Springs Police department told reporters on Tuesday that they had arrested Mr Jahaziel Carter in connection with the death of Mr Eric Chepkuto on December 28 last year. Mr Carter is currently held at the Fulton jail charged with murder. NAIROBI Sh1.8bn girl health project launched A Sh1.8 billion project that seeks to help girls stay healthy and avoid early marriages and unwanted pregnancies has been launched. The Adolescent Girls Initiative-Kenya targets at least 10,000 girls aged between 10 and 14 in northern Kenya and in urban slums. The project by Population Council is funded by the UK Department for International Development. MAKUENI 120 bags of cereals stolen from trader A cereals businessman from Makindu in Makueni County has suffered losses after a driver disappeared with 100 bags of green grams and 20 bags of cow peas he was trasporting. Mr Augustine Mutiso Muoki and a lorry driver he hired had stopped for a rest at Mtito-Andei on their way to Mombasa on Tuesday night. 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